DOT withdraws two proposed trucking rules
Louisiana motorists may not know that the U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn two proposed rules aimed at the trucking industry, according to the agency’s biannual regulatory calendar update report. The withdrawals are reportedly due in part to the Trump administration’s aversion to new federal regulations.
One of the proposed rules, issued last September, would have required the trucking industry to use speed limiters on its trucks. However, the DOT moved it from the active list to a long-term list, stalling its implementation for the foreseeable future. The move isn’t a surprise, as support for the regulation has dropped within the trucking industry over the last 12 months and President Trump has indicated a desire to scale back on the enactment of new federal regulations.
The second proposed rule would have established a protocol with which to screen truck drivers for obstructive sleep apnea before they are certified. However, the DOT withdrew the new rule on an unspecified date in June, and the agency has not yet said if it will pursue the matter again in the future. According to the DOT report, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration decided that there wasn’t enough information provided in support of the regulation to move forward.
Speeding and truck driver fatigue cause thousands of serious truck accidents on American roads every year. Some injured victims choose to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault truck driver and/or the trucking company to recover damages, including medical expenses and lost wages. An attorney could review a victim’s case and explain all legal remedies available.
Source: Overdrive Online, “Trump DOT nixes sleep apnea rulemaking, bumps speed limiter mandate“, James Jaillet, July 24, 2017
Tags: Truck Accidents
